No Way, NFL! Give That Money To The Vets!

Tell The NFL Commissioner That It's Not OK To Mislead The Public Like This!

VICTORY! As of May 2016, the NFL has decided to return over 700,000 in tax-payer money over this scandal. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has said that, in addition to returning the money, the NFL would audit marketing activities to prevent such mismanagement of money in the future. The NFL's paid patriotism is at an end!

Final signature count: 20,377

Sponsored by:The Veterans Site

We all know about the NFL's pre-game salutes to our troops and veterans, but what you probably DIDN'T know was that they were being paid to do it with tax-payer money!

Recently, The Hill uncovered the heinous truth that 14 NFL teams have been accepting money from the Defense Department and the National Guard to put on displays of patriotism, events like their Hometown Heroes segments and jet flyovers. The Atlanta Falcons received the biggest allocation of funds, accepting over a million dollars in the past four years!

At no point have the NFL teams involved in these deals explicated that their troop tributes were sponsored. They've been taking credit for supporting the troops altruistically when it's really the troops that have been supporting them!

The icy sting is felt most when one learns that the money the NFL has been taking to honor the troops something they should be doing for free as proud Americans has been taxpayer money from the Defense Department and the National Guard!

Take action against the NFL by telling Commissioner Roger Goodell an apology needs to be made to their fans and to all Americans! The NFL should take the equivalent to funds that they've accepted and donate them to the VA to help soldiers and veterans.

Patriotism comes from pride, not from the bank!

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Dear NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell,

I find it absolutely unacceptable that you have allowed NFL franchises to pull the wool over our eyes in regards to the NFL's patriotism and have remained silent on this issue.

According to a recent report by NJ.com, The New York Jets received $377,000 from the Defense Department between 2011 and 2014. Other news sources (The Hill and The Florida Times Union) reported that your entire organization has received over $5.4 million in funds for in-game events sponsored by the military.

Understanding that the events were paid for by the Defense Department and the National Guard with taxpayer money is frustrating enough, but to find that these teams have not disclosed that the events were sponsored is wrong and deceitful towards their fans. For franchises to portray their patriotism as altruistic, generous, or as anything other than sponsored is a lie that requires an apology to their fans and to the troops.

Overall, the fact that your organization is even accepting money for these types of patriotic spectacles is wrong. The Defense Department should not have to pay you to show your support for America's military service members. You should be honoring the military because you have respect for our soldiers and veterans.

Americans are patriotic to show their gratitude towards the men and women who sacrifice themselves so that we may enjoy our personal freedoms. Americans should not be patriotic because they are paid to do so. As Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona has said, "[the NFL] realize the public believes they're doing it as a public service or a sense of patriotism. It leaves a bad taste in your mouth."

As suggested by The Florida Times Union, I think that you, as the commissioner of the NFL, should require each of the 14 NFL teams that have accepted these funds to withdraw the exact amount of money they've received and donate those funds to the VA and other organizations that support soldiers and veterans. This, in addition to a formal apology, is the only way that the NFL can make amends for disguising their deals with the Pentagon and misleading their fans.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Petition Signatures

Sep 16, 2017(Name not displayed)

Sep 15, 2017David Sweeney

Sep 14, 2017Pamela Ierubino

Sep 14, 2017Carrie Bolin

Sep 14, 2017Sandy Miller

Sep 14, 2017Ronald Rutzky

Sep 11, 2017Kristi L. Meccia

Sep 11, 2017Charlotte Woodardshame on the NFL my gosh how greedy!!!
These great military men and women put their lives on the line for very little what the hell does the NFL do but take money WOW!!!

Sep 6, 2017(Name not displayed)

Sep 6, 2017Arnold CabralVeterans should call their Senators and Representative get better Veterans Benefits then NFL FOOTBALL PLAYERS.

Sep 4, 2017Andrew Woods

Sep 3, 2017(Name not displayed)this is a greedterrible act of

Sep 2, 2017Candi Gaona

Sep 1, 2017Jen vonSchlieder

Aug 24, 2017Anne Romanow

Aug 24, 2017donna gargano

Aug 22, 2017Harold Bees

Aug 21, 2017Gil Hackel

Aug 18, 2017Mary Ware

Aug 18, 2017melinda duff

Aug 18, 2017Michael Seifert

Aug 18, 2017David Pascoe

Aug 18, 2017Christine ORourke

Aug 16, 2017Terry LoweShame on you, Commissioner Roger Goodell!! Do the right thing. I tell you this, i will re-post this to every social media I can find so all those red blooded, blood bleeding Americans, can see what you've done in the name of America's Soldiers!

Aug 16, 2017Alanna Reuben

Aug 14, 2017LINDA JENNINGS

Aug 12, 2017Jason Wood

Aug 10, 2017(Name not displayed)

Aug 9, 2017Roxie Pranger

Aug 9, 2017(Name not displayed)

Aug 8, 2017Norma Corban

Aug 6, 2017Stephanie BlalockThe nfl is already tax exempt. This needs to change and all the money go to the real heros of America

Aug 6, 2017Mike Lafrance

Aug 6, 2017Sandy Bieker

Aug 4, 2017Robyn Cotterill

Aug 4, 2017(Name not displayed)DO THE RIGHT THING NOT THE GREEDY THING! SUPPORT OUR MILITARY - THEY PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE FOR OUR FREEDOMS!!!

Aug 2, 2017Meggie Tryon

Jul 31, 2017Fern Swecker

Jul 30, 2017Julia Phillips

Jul 30, 2017Goldie Antelman

Jul 27, 2017(Name not displayed)

Jul 26, 2017(Name not displayed)

Jul 26, 2017Stephanie Carey

Jul 23, 2017Karen WagnerYou should be supporting our veterans instead of pretending and taking taxpayer funds to do so. It's not as if you need the money considering what tickets to NFL games cost. Shame on you!